Large character sign apparatus

ABSTRACT

A machine for printing, embossing or die cutting characters or indicia on a longitudinally extending strip of material to produce a sign or label. The strip is fed into the machine subjacent a carousel or drum in which a plurality of circumferentially spaced slugs are carried, each slug being adapted for producing a printed, embossed or die cut character on the strip upon proper actuation. The carousel is rotatably mounted to permit a selected slug to be appropriately positioned at the station whereat the character is produced on the strip. Actuation of a handle moves the selected slug downwardly and adjacent to the strip, and further handle movement forces the slug against the strip to perform the character producing operation thereon. Release of the handle frees the slug from the strip, incrementally advances the strip into position to receive a succeeding character, and raises the slug back into the carousel so that the latter may be rotated to position the next required slug character for operation.

3,750,791 Aug. 7, 1973 LARGE CHARACTER SIGN APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr AmmieyHarris Zimmerman [75] Inventors: Boone K. Mclleynolds, Concord;

Fritz Hus, Walnut Creek, both of nt [57] ABSTRACT [73} Assignee: Dymo Industries, Inc., Everyville, A machin? q p enlbmling or die Gluing That. Calif acters or mdlcia on a longitudinally extendmg strip of material to produce a sign or label. The strip is fed into F e Nov- 23, 1970 the machine su bjacent a carousel or drum in which a [211 App! Nu: 92,002 plurality of c ireumferentially spaced slugs are carried,

each slug being adapted for producing a printed, embossedor die cut character on the strip upon proper acl l 12 27/ tuation. The earousel is rotatably mounted to permit a {51] Int. Cl B41] 1/16, B41 1/22 selected slug to be appropriately positioned at the stal l Field 0! Search -6. 6 tion whereat the character is produced on the strip. Ac-

/2 tuation of a handle moves the selected slug downwardly and adjacent to the strip, and further handle movement [56] Reterenees Cited forces the slug against the strip to perform the charac UNiTED STATES PATENTS ter producing operation thereon. Release of the handle 298 64g 51934 Williams 197/6] frees the slug from the strip, incrementally advances 775354 11/1994 Rowers e aim 97/67; the strip into position to receive a succeeding charac- IJMBAM i2l19l2 Duncan r A 01 23 ter, and raises the slug back into the carousel so that M37500 M11929 Johnson 101/28 X the latter may be rotated to position the next required l 746,22) 2/}930 Dyas 4 a a .4 l97/67 slug character for operation. 1,980,0[4 llil934 Swcnsnn r l97/6.7 2,796966 ems? Toeppcn t t v mm 24 Claims, 2| Dr g Flflllm 3,389,772 6/l968 Sjogren el al. l97i6.7

H QM l [l i i Q I90 204 i a a 1 so 214 208 l I 206 fv'l'i'O PATMEB W5 3.750.791

sum 1 er a INVENTORS BOONE K. MRYNOLDS HAAS FRITZ BY ATTORNEY PATENIEM INVENTORS BOONE K. McREYNOLDS B FRITZ HAAS FlG 2 ATTORN EY PATENTEU M13 7 3 7 5O 791 sam- 3 0r 3 :NvENToRs BOONE K McREYNOLDS BY FRITZ HAAS ATTCSRNEY FIG 4 FIGJ? INVENTORS BOONE K McREYNOLDS FRITZ HAAS AFTORNEY PAIENTED A115 7 SHEET 5 0F 8 INVENTORS' K. Na REYNOLDS FRiTZ HAAS 01 E o: 001% N: N m 8 2 my @2 w I on I it mm mm M @2 8. 3. N2 I m ATTORNEY mauwm 1W SHEEIBIIB l. m @E w m NNN m /b m m m BOONE K. McREYNOLDS AT ORNEY macaw SHEEI'HJFB FRITZ HAAS ATTORNEY PATENIEB 7973 SHEEIBNB FRiTZ HA AS ATTORNEY 1 LARGE CHARACTER SIGN APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION in many instances it is desirable to produce seiected indicia on a longitudinally extending strip of material to produce a sign, label or the like. Such strips are frequently provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive backing so that after the desired indicia has been applied thereto, the label or sign may be adhesively secured to a supporting surface.

Such labels or signs may be produced using a number of different systems. For example, if the strip is formed of paper or similar material, printing type characters may be used to produce printed indicia on the strip. Another system in widespread use embodies a soft metal, vinyl or other plastic strip, such strip being incrementally advanced past an embossing station whereat a plurality of embossing dies may be selectively positioned to emboss the desired characters on the strip. Systems of this nature may be found in such prior art as US. Pat. No. 3,006,451, entitled Hand Operated Embossing Tool. A similar sign or label producing system employs a laminated strip and the desired indicia is die cut through the upper layer and forced against the substrate. The remaining portion of the upper layer is then peeled away, leaving the die cut indieia thereon, usually in a color contrasting to that of the substrate.

Manually operated embossing or die cutting machines which are capable of producing indicia on a continuous strip of material in which the strip'is advanced incrementally as each indicia is produced have heretofore been generally limited to producing relatively am all characters. With previous arrangements, the indicia producing dies were arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship on a disc-like member, and for each increase in indicia size, the diameter of the disc member was proportionately increased. For practical reasons, no satisfactory device has been available which, for example, was capable of producing die cut or embossed indicia of one inch or greater height on a strip of material.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide for producing indicia on a longitudinally extending strip of material in which the indicia may be of substantial size, and in which selected indicia may be produced on the strip by mere rotation of a carousel member.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the above character in which the carousel is rotatable over a pair oi relatively movable plates between which the strip is incrementally advanced, a common actuating member being utilized to pull the desired embossing slug from the carousel and against the strip and force the plates together, release of such member separating the plates, advancing the strip for receiving the next indicia, and returning the sing to its storage position in the carousel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique slug bearing a desired indicia or character capable of die cutting through one laminate of a multilaminate strip.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the carousel assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the carousel inclearing wheel;

FIG. 3A is a view taken on line 3A-3A of PEG. 3', FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the carousel removed;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the apparatus with portions of the carousel, housing and base broken away;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus with portions of the carousel, housing and base broken away;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a typical slug;

FIG. 8 is a top edge view of the slug taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

HO. 9 is a bottom edge view of the slug, taken along line 9-9 of H6. 7-,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the handle assembly, strip guide mechanism and the toggle assembly;

FlG. I1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the feed arm advancing the strip of material;

P16. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10 but with certain parts removed;

FIG. 13 is an end view of the feed and tog-gle assemblies;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the adiusting wheel;

FIG. I5 is a cross'sectional view taken aiong the line 15-15 of FIG. "I l;

FIG. I6 is a perspective view of the strip being stripped after a die cutting operation;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the base plate;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 18- of FIG. 1';

FIG. I9 is a front elevational view of a portion of the sensing apparatus used to determine the amount of strip advance, depending upon the particular indicia on the slug; and

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. I9, but illustrating the rest position of the sensing mechanism.

DESCRlFTIGN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As hereinabove mentioned, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to produce large indicia 20 on a continuous strip or tape 22. For purpose of illustration only, such tape 22 is formed as a laminate and includes a substrate 24 and an upper layer 26 reasonably attached thereto, as best shown in P10. 16 of the drawings. After a slug, presently to be described, is forced against the tape, the selectedindicia is die cut through layer 16 with the die cut portion being forced against and/or into the substrate 23. After the desired indicia have been produced, the entire upper layer is peeled or stripped from the substrate, leaving the indicia 20 thereon to provide a sign or the like. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus of this invention is equally effective in producing embossed indicia on the strip or tape 22, the slug in such instance performing an embossing rather than a die cutting operation. Thus, the terms printing, embossing or die cutting are used herein in an explanatory rather than a limiting sense.

in broad terms, the present apparatus includes a base 28 on which the operating mechanism is mounted, a housing 30 extending upwardly from the base, and a carousel assembly 32 rotatably mounted in overlying relation to the housing. Carousel 32 is adapted to store a plurality of slugs 34 which are capable of producing the indicia on tape 22. The tape is introduced through an opening 36 in an end wall of the housing, and as will be later described in more detail, the tape is incrementally advanced upon each printing (embossing, die-cutting) cycle. Actuation of a manually engageable handle 38 causes a slug 34 to be pulled down from its slot in the carousel and forced against the tape to produce the indicia thereon. The slug is then raised back into the carousel and tape is advanced. By successively repeating such cycles, the produced indicia will result in a sign or label bearing the desired legend.

Referring first to the carousel assembly 32, it will be seen to include an annular housing 40 of generally inverted bowl-like configuration, having a top surface 42, an inner cylindrical wall 44, and an outer cylindrical wall 46 and an open bottom. The top wall or surface is provided with a plurality of generally radially disposed rectangular slots 48 which at their ends have a reduced width so as to conform to the cross-sectional shape of slugs 34 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and as will be hereinafter described in greater detail. A cover 50 normally overlies the slug-receiving housing 40 and may be releasably secured thereto in any convenient manner, it being understood that the cover will normally be considered a part of the housing, but is removable when, for example, a slug is to be removed from or inserted in the housing 40.

In order to rotatably support the housing 40, and maintain the slugs in their respective slots 48, the following structure is employed. A horizontally disposed base plate 52 is mounted in vertically spaced relation to base 28 and is fixedly secured to the latter. More particularly, plate 52 is supported on posts 54 extending upwardly from the base, with screws 58 providing the attachment therebetween. Extending upwardly from the upper surface of plate 52 are three crown rivets 60 (FIG. 17), each such rivet including an enlarged portion 62 intermediate its height. The upper ends of said rivets 60 engage apertures 64 in an annular carousel disc 66 disposed in overlying relation to base plate 52. Since the latter plate is stationary, the disc 66 will likewise be stationary during carousel rotation, but such disc serves as a bottom for housing 40 and prevents the slugs from dropping from the housing.

Housing 40 rotates over disc 66 and a lower annular portion 68 of the housing is secured by screws 70 to an upper boss 72 of a member 74, the latter extending through the central opening 76 of disc 66. Member 74 has a lower annular base portion 78 on which three peripheral notches 80 are provided, such notches allowing registration with the crown rivets 60 to permit installation of the carousel assembly on base plate 52. The periphery of the portion 78 normally underlies the enlarged portions 62 of the rivets, so unless the notches 80 are in registration (such as for installation or removal of the carousel) the enlarged rivet portions 62 will hold the member 74, disc 66 and housing 40 in position on plate 52, but permit rotation of member 74 and the housing 40 relative thereto.

It will be noted that disc 66 is provided with a slot 82 for permitting a single slug to drop therethrough as will be later explained, such slot also having a shape corresponding to the slug shape. It should also be noted that base plate 52 is not a complete disc, but is cut as shown in FIG. 4, permitting movement of a slug through slot 82 past the plate and into the operating parts of the slug actuating mechanism. It will also be noted that disc 66 overlies a generally circular opening 83 provided in the top wall 85 of housing 30.

In order to sequentially align each of the housing slots 48 and the slugs therein with the slot 82, the lower surface 84 of housing 40 is provided adjacent its periphery with a plurality of circumferentially spaced depending pins 86 which are engaged by a rotatable spring-loaded indexing wheel 88 carried on a bracket 90 which is attached to the lower surface of disc 66.

The individual slots in the housing may be appropriately numbered or lettered for the particular slug positioned therein and a registration mark 92 provided on the upper surface of housing 30. The operator may then manually rotate or dial the carousel housing 32 until the desired character registers with mark 92, thus indicating that the appropriate slug in the carousel housing overlies disc slot 82. As the carousel is rotated past each slug position, the indexing wheel will click, a spring 94 having one end connected to a bracket lug 95 and the other end connected to disc 66 urging the bracket 90 and wheel 88 radially outwardly and into engagement with the pins and preventing the carousel from stopping in some intermediate position.

Before discussing the character forming operation, reference is made to FIGS. 7-9 and 18 of the drawings wherein the slugs 34 are best shown. Each slug is of generally square plan configuration having a flat back surface 98. The front surface has a raised portion terminating inwardly from the opposed edges 102 and 104 of the slug, extending to the bottom edge I06, and extending to the top edge 108 only along two spaced extensions 110. The central area or raised ponion 100 is provided with a character 112 in the form of a diecutting blade. Preferably, as best seen in FIG. 18, the outer edge 114 of each of the die-cutter lines of the character is normal to the plane of the slug, while the other edge 116 defines an acute angle with edge I14. This arrangement permits proper stripping of layer 26 as above explained, but insures that the indicia 20 remains on the substrate.

It will also be noted that the lower edge 106 of the slug is provided with a hook shaped slot 118 which is adapted to be engaged by a mechanism to pull the slug downwardly for a character producing operation. It will also later be made clear that this same mechanism supports a slug aligned with disc slot 82 and prevents the slug from dropping out of the carousel until the handle is actuated.

It will also be observed that the slug surface II9 between the adjacent lines which form the character is raised about 0.012 inches above the surface I00, producing sharp characters on the strip and a ready stripping operation. It should also be pointed out that the slug provides a large background surface area to push against the strip material. In this manner, even small characters, such as a period, wont punch through the strip.

The tape or strip 22 is fed into the housing 30 through the opening 36 in a generally vertical plane and passes into a funnel-like tape receiving chute 121 which is aligned with a tape guide 122 of generally C- shaped configuration (FIGS. 10,13). The free end of the tape is adapted to pass through the housing and emerges through an opening in the housing opposite to opening 36. Tape guide I22 has a vertical rear wall 124 which terminates just short of the station whereat the indiciaproducing operation is performed, the tape being adapted to project past the distal end of the guide to such station. Guide 1 22 is supported by legs 126 suitably connected to the housing base 28. For a purpose to be presently explained in connection with the tape feed mechanism, rear wall 124 is provided with a longitudinal slot 128 adiacent the distal end thereof.

Positioned beyond the end of tape guide 124 are a pair of vertical plates 130, 132, such plates being carried on horizontal studs 134 extending forwardly from a pair of stationary frame plates 136,138 which are rigidly attached to the end portions of the studs, and may thus be referred to as a back up plate, while plate 132 is mounted for sliding movement on the studs and may accordingly be considered a pressure plate in its movement towards plate 130. The space between plates 130 and 132 may be identified as the station whereat the character producing operation takes place on the tape strip 22 as the latter passes between the plates. After passing through the plates the lower edge of the strip is supported on a roller 140 before egressing from the housing.

Movement of pressure plate 132 from and towards back up plate 130 is effected by movement of the manually engageable handle 38 in the following manner. It will first be noted that the handle extends through a slot 142 provided in top wall 85 of the housing, and at its upper end has a grip portion 144. The lower end of the handle is secured to a shaft 146 which is journalled for rotation in a block 148 at one end and in frame plate I36 at its other end, a medial portion of the handle shaft 146 passing through an aperture 150 in frame plate 138. A pair of stop metnbers1$2 and 154 extending upwardly from the base limits the movement of the handle between its normal inoperative position and its operative position.

A shaft 156 extends between frame plates 136 and 138 adjacent the rear ends thereof, and journalled on such shaft are end portions of a pair of links 358, 160. The distal ends of the links are connected by a shaft (not shown) which in turn carries a central roller 162 and a forked element 164 whose forward end portion is pivotally attached to pressure plate 132. A earn 166 fixedly carried on handle shaft 1&6 engages the roller 162. Thus, when the handle is pulled forwardly, i.e. to-

wards the operator in front of the machine, the cam will raise roller 162 which raises the links 158,160. This in turn causes a forward movement of pressure plate 132 towards the back up plate 230. With the tape strip dis posed between such plates, if an indicia producing element is likewise disposed therebetween, the indicia will be produced on the strip 22.

Secured to handle shaft 246 is a bevel segment gear 170 having a stop shoulder 1'72 which in the normal inoperative position of handle 38 overlies an annular flange 174 of a vertical locking pin 176. The lower end of pin 176 is supported in an aperture in the base 28 with a spring 1?? interposed between the base and flange I74 urging the pin upwardly. The upper end of the pin is aligned with an aperture 180 in the top wall 85 of the housing, and is also in alignment with a circumferential portion of surface 84 of housing 40 from which the pins 86 depend. As the handle is moved to its actuating positiomthe shoulder 172 is pivoted away from flange 174, spring 178 thus urging the pin 176 upwardly through aperture 180 and between a pair of pins 86, whereby the carousel is locked against rotation during operation. A second shoulder 182 limits upward travel of pin 176.

As previously mentioned, means are provided to support the slugs as they pass over slit 82, and to pull down a properly registered desired slug between the plates and 132. As here shown, such means includes a lever arm assembly 386 having a lever arm 188 pivotally mounted at one end to a stub shaft 190 extending forwardly from tape guide 122. The arm 188 passes between plates 130 and 132 under one of the upper posts 134 and the distal end thereof is provided with a horizontal ledge portion 192 and a hook portion 194 which normally extend upwardly through slot 82, as viewed in FIG. 6 to engage and support the lower similarly shaped portions 106 and 118 of slugs 34, as the latter are passed over the slot. When the handle is actuated, however, the slug registered with the slot will be pulled downwardly and into alignment with the tape strip during the first part of handle movement, further movement of the handle causing the pressure plate 132 to move towards the back up plate 130. Return of handle to its normal position raises and returns the slug to its position within the carousel.

To effect such movement of lever arm 188, the following structure is employed. Mounted on a shaft 196 disposed at right angles to handle shaft 146 is a bevel gear 198 which engages handle shaft gear 170. As handle 38 is actuated, shaft 196 will thus be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. Secured to shaft 196 for rotation therewith is a bifurcated element 200 which carries a roller 282 at its distal end. A leaf spring 204 overlies the roller. The roller is rotatabiy mounted on a shaft 206 carried by element 200, such shaft also engaging the forired end portion of an arm 208 which is secured to lever arm 188 for movement therewith. A spring 207 normally urges arm 208 in a counter clockwise direction. Accordingly, as handle 38 is actuated, shaft 206 will rock arm 208 in a counter clockwise direction, moving lever arm 188 downwardly with the slug. At the end of full handle operation, element 200 will have been rotated clockwise to a position substantially parallel to base 28.

At the end of each such "printing" cycle, i.e. upon separation of the plates 130,132 and the raising of the slug from between the plates, the tape strip is caused to be incrementally advanced to position the strip for'the nest succeeding character producing opera-tion.

The tape strip advancing means, generally indicated by numeral 212, includes a horizontally disposed arm 23! mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical shaft 230. As best seen in FIGS. l and 11, one end of the arm 238 is provided with a point 224 positioned adjacent the tape strip 22 when the latter is di in tape guide 122. Such point is also disposed at the slot 128, the latter being provided with an anvil 222 in the general plane of the guide wall 124 and opposed to point 224. A spring 216 is connected to the pointed end portion of arm 238, thereby normally urging the arm in a counter clockwise direction about point 240. The other end of the am 238 is provided with a extension 236 extending generally normal to the length of the arm and adjusrably positioned thereon. The distal end of extension 236 rides along a curved cam surface 234 and the following operation occurs.

When the handle is in its forward or normal inoperative position, extension 236 will be engaged with the larger portion of cam 234, rocking arm 238 clockwise as shown in FIG. 4, against the pressure from spring 216. As the handle is actuated, i.e. moved towards the operator, the slope of the cam permits spring 216 to rock arm 238 counter clockwise as indicated in FIG. ll. During such rocking movement, the pointed end 224 of the arm will freely slide along the adjacent tape strip, or towards the right as viewed in said figures. However, upon return of the handle, and rotation of shaft 206 in a contra direction, the arm will be rocked in a clockwise direction, this causing the point 224 to dig into the tape strip and advance the same past the upper and lower support rollers 226 and into the space between plates I30 and 132. While the point 224 could be used without the slot 128 and anvil 222, better and more uniform incremental tape advance occurs if the tape strip is not dragged along the tape guide wall 124, but instead, the tape is merely forced by the point against the anvil 222 which can be formed of a suitable low friction plastic material.

To control the amount of strip advance after each printing" cycle, an adjustment member 228 is provided. This member is pivotally attached to plate 138 by a pin 230 and a knurled portion extends through a rear wall opening 232 of the housing for manual engagement by the user. The forward end portion of the member is provided with the cam 234. By rotating member 228, the position of the cam, and the rocking of arm 238 can be controlled, this in turn controlling the amount of advance of the strip. The stroke of pressure plate 132 towards back up plate 130 whereby different printing" pressures may be used and strips of different thickness may be more readily accommodated. Such means include an adjusting wheel 246 in opposed relation to member 228, and carried on side frame plate 136. Said wheel is keyed to shaft 156 which has a flattened portion 248, and on the inner surface of the wheel are a plurality of detents 250 which ride in and frictionally engage spaced portions of a groove provided on the outer surface of plate 136. A peripheral portion of wheel 246 extends through the rear wall of the housing for manual adjustment. Rotation of wheel 246 will likewise incrementally rotate shaft 156, the latter being eccentric, thereby modifying the travel of links 158,160 to vary the stroke of pressure plate 132.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the amount of strip advance is determined from the width of the character being produced. Thus, if the letter I is die cut on the strip, a lesser amount of strip advance is desired than if the character is a W. More particularly, the possibly more important is the fact that the sensing of the character width is determined solely from the slug itself, so that irrespective of how the slugs are arranged in the carousel, the proper strip advance will be produced after the slug has engaged the strip material.

As best seen in FIGS. 7-9 of the drawings, each slug is provided with a lug 254 extending upwardly from surface 100 adjacent the lower edge 106. As will be presently made clear, the position of the lug relative to the side edge 102 of the slug will determine the strip advance. For a lesser advance, such as for the letter I, the lug 254 will be adjacent edge 102, while for a wide character, the lug will be spaced further from such edge.

As best shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, carriage 212 at its distal end is provided with a hook 256 normally positioned as shown in FIG. 20. When the handle is actuated, and spring 216 moves the carriage to the right, such hook will be interrupted by lug 254, preventing further carriage movement. By thus sensing directly from the slugs, the carriage travel is limited and controlled, and consequently the tape advance upon movement of the carriage to the left is likewise controlled.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for producing indicia on a strip of material comprising a housing, an indicia producing station in said housing, strip feed means in said housing for incrementally advancing said strip to said station, a rotatable carousel overlying said housing, a plurality of indicia producing elements carried by said carousel, each of such elements comprising a flat element with opposed planar surfaces with indicia producing means on one surface thereof, said elements being disposed in said carousel with said surfaces generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said carousel, actuating means for first moving a selected element downwardly and generally parallel to said axis from said carousel to said station and adjacent a strip positioned thereat, and for secondly moving said element generally normal to said first movement and into indicia producing relationship against a strip.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I in which said housing is provided with an upper member having a slot therein, said indicia producing elements being movable through said slot from and to said carousel and said station.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said element moving means is in alignment with said slot and engages and supports said elements during carousel rotation.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including carousel indexing means for rotatably positioning said carousel with a selected element overlying and aligned with said slot.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim I in which each of said indicia producing elements comprises a generally planar slug, said carousel having a plurality of slugreceiving slots, each of said slugs having indicia producing means on one surface thereof, and an edge portion of each slug having means thereon engageable with said moving means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said indicia producing means comprises a character defined by die cutting blades.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said edge portion means is on the bottom edge of the slug and includes a hook-like recess.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a pair of opposed plates define said station, and said actuating means moving said plates relative to each other for forcing said element against a strip at said station.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a manually operable handle extending upwardly from said housing, said handle being operatively connected to said actuating means and to said strip means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which initial movement of said handle in one direction first moves an element downwardly to said station and further handle movement in said one direction forces said element against a strip, and movement of said handle in an opposite direction releases the element from strip engagemeat, raises the element upwardly and then actuates said strip feed means.

ll. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for locking said carousel against rotation upon handle actuation.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said locking means includes a spring loaded pin in said housing movable from a first depressed inoperative position to a second elevated operative position in engagement with said carousel.

l3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said elements are provided with a sensing means, and said strip feed means is operatively engageable with said sensing means to thereby control the amount of incremental strip advance following an indicia producing operation.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said sensing means includes a projection extending from said element, and said strip feed means includes a carriage freely movable along a strip in one direction and engageable with said strip in a longitudinally opposite direction of movement, said carriage having means engaging said projection for limiting movement thereof in said former direction of movement.

l5. Apparatus for producing indicia on a strip of material comprising a housing, a member overlying said housing and having a plurality of slug receiving elements therein, a plurality of slugs receivable in said elements and each slug having means on a surface thereof for producing indicia on a strip of material when forced thereagainst. a slug receiving slot on an upper surface of said housing, a fixed plate in said housing, an opposed movable plate in said housing, each of said plates underlying said receiving slot on opposite sides thereof, an arm mounted in said housing for pivotal movement and having an end portion extending through said receiving slot supporting said slugs in one position of said arm and grasping said slug for downward movement in another position of said arm, and a handle operatively connected to said movable plate and to said arm for first moving said slug downwardly and between said plates in initial handle actuation and then moving said movable plate towards said fixed plate upon further handle actuation to press a slug against said strip to produce indicia, said plate movement being in a direction generally normal to said first movement.

16. Apparatus as set forth in ciairn 15 in which initial movement of said handle in a second direction moves said movable plate away from said fixed plate, and secondary movement of said handle in said second direction rocks said arm upwardly to push said slug back through said slot and into said slug receiving member.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said housing is provided with a strip guide extending towards and in alignment with the space between said plates.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which a strip advance means is provided, said strip advance means including an arm having a strip engagement element, said element being slidable past a strip positioned in said guide, during movement of said element in a direction away from said plates and biting into said strip upon movement of said element towards said plates.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in which connecting means are provided between said handle and said arm, said means including a cam surface operatively engageabie with said arm.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which means are provided for selectively varying strip advance upon handle movement in said second direction.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said last named means includes mechanism for varying the positions of said cam surface.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said slug receiving member is provided with indexing means for selectively registering said slug-receiving slots of said member with said housing slot.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 in which said member is journalled for rotation on said housing, said member in one position of rotation being freely movable onto and off from said housing, and means on said member in other rotational positions locking the same against removal while maintaining rotational relationship.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including actuating means operatively connected to said movable plate and to said handle, said actuating means being ad justable to selectively vary the movement of said movable plate.

* i i i t 

1. Apparatus for producing indicia on a strip of material comprising a housing, an indicia producing station in said housing, strip feed means in said housing for incrementally advancing said strip to said station, a rotatable carousel overlying said housing, a plurality of indicia producing elements carried by said carousel, each of such elements comprising a flat element with opposed planar surfaces with indicia producing means on one surface thereof, said elements being disposed in said carousel with said surfaces generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said carousel, actuating means for first moving a selected element downwardly and generally parallel to said axis from said carousel to said station and adjacent a strip positioned thereat, and for secondly moving said element generally normal to said first movement and into indicia producing relationship against a strip.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said housing is provided with an upper member having a slot therein, said indicia producing elements being movable through said slot from and to said carousel and said station.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said element moving means is in alignment with said slot and engages and supports said elements during carousel rotation.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including carousel indexing means for rotatably positioning said carousel with a selected element overlying and aligned with said slot.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said indicia producing elements comprises a generally planar slug, said carousel having a plurality of slug-receiving slots, each of said slugs having indicia producing means on one surface thereof, and an edge portion of each slug having means thereon engageable with said moving means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said indicia producing means comprises a character defined by die cutting blades.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said Edge portion means is on the bottom edge of the slug and includes a hook-like recess.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a pair of opposed plates define said station, and said actuating means moving said plates relative to each other for forcing said element against a strip at said station.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a manually operable handle extending upwardly from said housing, said handle being operatively connected to said actuating means and to said strip means.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which initial movement of said handle in one direction first moves an element downwardly to said station and further handle movement in said one direction forces said element against a strip, and movement of said handle in an opposite direction releases the element from strip engagement, raises the element upwardly and then actuates said strip feed means.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for locking said carousel against rotation upon handle actuation.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said locking means includes a spring loaded pin in said housing movable from a first depressed inoperative position to a second elevated operative position in engagement with said carousel.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said elements are provided with a sensing means, and said strip feed means is operatively engageable with said sensing means to thereby control the amount of incremental strip advance following an indicia producing operation.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said sensing means includes a projection extending from said element, and said strip feed means includes a carriage freely movable along a strip in one direction and engageable with said strip in a longitudinally opposite direction of movement, said carriage having means engaging said projection for limiting movement thereof in said former direction of movement.
 15. Apparatus for producing indicia on a strip of material comprising a housing, a member overlying said housing and having a plurality of slug receiving elements therein, a plurality of slugs receivable in said elements and each slug having means on a surface thereof for producing indicia on a strip of material when forced thereagainst, a slug receiving slot on an upper surface of said housing, a fixed plate in said housing, an opposed movable plate in said housing, each of said plates underlying said receiving slot on opposite sides thereof, an arm mounted in said housing for pivotal movement and having an end portion extending through said receiving slot supporting said slugs in one position of said arm and grasping said slug for downward movement in another position of said arm, and a handle operatively connected to said movable plate and to said arm for first moving said slug downwardly and between said plates in initial handle actuation and then moving said movable plate towards said fixed plate upon further handle actuation to press a slug against said strip to produce indicia, said plate movement being in a direction generally normal to said first movement.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which initial movement of said handle in a second direction moves said movable plate away from said fixed plate, and secondary movement of said handle in said second direction rocks said arm upwardly to push said slug back through said slot and into said slug receiving member.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said housing is provided with a strip guide extending towards and in alignment with the space between said plates.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which a strip advance means is provided, said strip advance means including an arm having a strip engagement element, said element being slidable past a strip positioned in said guide, during movement of said element in a direction away from said plates and biting into said strip upon movement of said element towards said plates.
 19. Apparatus as set fortH in claim 18 in which connecting means are provided between said handle and said arm, said means including a cam surface operatively engageable with said arm.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which means are provided for selectively varying strip advance upon handle movement in said second direction.
 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said last named means includes mechanism for varying the positions of said cam surface.
 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said slug receiving member is provided with indexing means for selectively registering said slug-receiving slots of said member with said housing slot.
 23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 in which said member is journalled for rotation on said housing, said member in one position of rotation being freely movable onto and off from said housing, and means on said member in other rotational positions locking the same against removal while maintaining rotational relationship.
 24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including actuating means operatively connected to said movable plate and to said handle, said actuating means being adjustable to selectively vary the movement of said movable plate. 